'USAAF' UFO Research Pre-1947

Article by Wendy Connors

10th August 1999

Research Release:

On a recent research trip to Dayton, Ohio, Wendy Connors and
Mike Hall recovered some new information that directly impacts
the historical record of Ufology. This information comes from a
very knowledgable and inside source to the inner workings of
Project's SIGN, Grudge and Blue Book. This source desires to
remain unnamed at this point in time and both Mike and I will
certainly honor his desires. No discussion as to who the source
might be will be entertained by us. This source did, however,
work directly with the people comprising SIGN, Grudge and Blue
Book for many years and was not only friends, but part of a good
old boy's network within T-2.

The following information is shared with all of our fellow
researchers:

Prior to 1947, in the fall and winter months of 1946, not only
was the Navy deeply investigating the Ghost Rocket phenomena in
the Baltic, but many sightings of disc-like craft were being
reported by military pilots at this same time. Some sightings
were in the Pacific areas as well as over the United States.
Many of these cases are still unknown to the ufological
community.

In late 1946, Colonel Howard McCoy, Colonel Miles Goll and two
other officers within T-2 Intelligence set up a Top Secret
office away from T-2 proper to begin looking into the flying
discs being reported. At this time such an investigation was
beyond the scope of T-2 and no authorization had been given for
such an investigation. Although the office was used as a base of
operations for analysis of these military sightings, it was not
official, nor had Air Force Intelligence (A2 or AFOIN) sanction
to do so.

By the time of the Kenneth Arnold and other early 1947 cases, A2
decided to begin investigation of the flying discs. Word was
passed down through Gen. Carl T. Spaatz that AFOIN should begin
looking into the situation. Word had leaked out to Gen. George
McDonald that several officers at T-2 had already begun looking
into some of the reports. In order to prevent the upper
eschelons from learning that this unofficial investigation had
already begun over seven months earlier, and time and money had
been used, a paper trail was needed to cover the fact that this
unauthorized investigation had begun without approval. This was
accomplished quickly by T-2 sending requests to AFOIN (A2) for
all prior reports of disc sightings by the military as well as
the Ghost Rocket investigations that had been in progress for
almost a year.

In order to further cover and make the previous unauthorized
investigations legitimate, Gen. Nathan Twining complied with an
emergency request from Gen. McDonald, through Gen. Schulgen that
an opinion be written regarding the flying discs. This was
unique, because at the time of the Twining Memo, T-2 was not
answerable to AMC. T-2 was solely stationed at Wright Field due
to the fact that much of the support elements T-2 needed were
all ready in place at Dayton. After June 14, 1947, T-2 was only
an administrative area for AMC. The officers comprising T-2
answered only to A2 (AFOIN) and not through the chain of command
at AMC. The Twining memo was definitely for real, but it was
produced under different circumstances than was previously
believed.

Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt, in his book, "The Report on
Unidentified Flying Objects" had stated that although the
investigations of flying discs had begun by August 1947, it was
not an official investigation. This new information validates
Ruppelt, but Ruppelt was not privy to the fact that the flying
disc investigations began almost 10 months earlier. There has
always been a question about Ruppelt's acumen regarding the
beginning point of the flying disc investigation and now it
seems imperative that Ruppelt's work be more closely examined
and analyized. Fran Ridge is already hard at work regarding this
aspect.

This new information has caused much excitement between Mike and
myself. We have enough documentation gathered to show that this
new information is valid and will be shared in its entirety in
the coming months. However, our research is still on-going and
other important elements regarding the early investigations and
people involved have been recovered and continuing to be
recovered. This information will also be passed on to the list
members at the appropriate time. We are still evaluating all the
new information.

One further note to share with interested list members. Our
source was an extremely close friend and associate with Col.
Harold Watson. He confirms that Col. Watson was still heading
ATIC during October, 1951 and Col. Dunn was working closely with
Col. Watson.

Both Mike and I hope this new information will be of benefit to
our fellow researchers.

Wendy Connors and Michael Hall
Project SIGN and Project Blue Book Research Centers

Article taken from the UFO UpDates Mailing List and posted with permission.

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